Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-11-04

hay to Madrid, this was the very Of
fcer, who signed my receipt"
Lackinsky betrayed no sign Of
fear, and the expression of his coun-
teuace did not vary, as he looked
from one to the other Of the excited
soldiers who surrounded him. They
would haye tern him to pieces had
uot their general, discouraged by
the failure Of his test, interfered
"My friends" he loudly exclaim-
ed, nothing is yet proved against
cur prisoner, and he has certainly
shown beyond d doubt that be does
not understand French, This peas
ant might easily make a mistake, for
it would be difficult to recognize a
man whom he saw only once and
then ia different uniform from the
one be now wears. The prisoner
locks like Russian, his papers are
addressed 10 the Cars Admiral and
| thipk we had better allow him to
proceed"
mo, no." was the cry that arose
from a hundred voices at once, eve
are not yet satisfied, and he shall not
go until we are"
But are we TO take the risk Of Of
Tending the Russians bv interfering
with one Of their dispatch bearersW
The guerrillas agreed that they did
not dare to act in opposition to the
Gear, at the same time they were not
yet convinced Of the nationality of
the man; they suspected be might
be q French spy, in spite of appear
ances. Accordingly be was conduct
ed to a vault beneath the chapel and
locked in
A hard ride of many hours over
rough roads, added to the agony of
mind which he had endured during
his examination, had so exhausted
poor Lackinsky, that be sank upon a
heap of straw in one corner of his
prison, and was soon asleep.
Two hours elapsed. when the door
was softly opened, and some one en-
tered A gentle tap on the shoulder
aroused the young Lieutenant, and
woman's gentle voice whispered:
"Voulez Uous souper, Monsieur?"
Heavy with sleep, the prisoner
fancied himself, for moment, with
his mess at Madrid. The fearful or
deal lasted only single moment, for,
looking up and rubbing his eyes,
Lackipsky's position was recalled TO
him by the darkness of his cell,
which served the double purpose of
concealing his doubt and surprise.
His presence of mind did not desert
him even then, and be inquired, in
German, what YVES wanted of him.
Without another word, the woman
disappeared.
When reporting this test to bis
comrades, Castanos added, with
coarse laugh; You see was right
in believing him to be Russian, for
were be French he would surely
have betrayed himself to woman
Give him something to eat, saddle
his horse and send him on his way"
Unfortunately for the prisoner,
the generals authority over his vol
unteer corps was not absolute; his
order was therefore obeyed oaly in
part. Supper was served, but Lack
nsky remained in mis- cell.
The following morning Castanos.
who had bis own reasons for wishing
to be favorebly reported TO the Rus
sian Government, Visited his prisoner
and told him not to be discouraged,
adding an assurance that his deten-
ton would soon end At the same
time, taking the youth by the hand,
be assured him, With smile, that
there was nothing further to fear.
Though inwardly rejoicing, as he
listened to the encouraging words,
Lackinsky appeared to comprehend
nothing but the gentle tone and
friendly pressure Of the hand.
Later, be was led to spot where
ten French prisoners had just been
shot. There, in the presence Of the
ghastly, bleeding corpses, be was for
ced to remain until night. Prison
was relief compared with such
cruel spectacle. yet, in spite of the
Generals re-assuring remarks, he
could not obtain the repose of which
he was by this time sorely in need.
The fate OF his companions in arms,
which he fully expected to share,
haunted him continually, until sleep
overcame him after several hours of
weary watching end tossing On his
hard bed of straw.
AS before. woman gently aroused
him, and spoke in the tone in French:
Come quickly; l will save you; your
horse is saddled; everything is ready;
follow me softly, softly"
The young lieutenant's senses were
Immediately on the alert; his suspic-
ion was fully aroused, and he was
not to be taken unawares. "What
was it you said p be quietly asked in
German ~ did not understand; can
you not speak to me in my native
tongue ?" The women Immediately
vanished.
On hearing of this incident, Casta-
nos again spoke in behalf of his pris-
oner; but the assertion made 80 con-
fidently by the peasant had worked
upon the minds Of the guerrillas to
such degree that they refused to be
convinced uatil they had made one
more trial. 1t was therefore agreed
that Lackinsky should remain in cap
tivity another night.
Five guerillas entered the vault on
the following morning, uttering furi-
Gus threats egainst the French, ac-
companied by maledictions On the
head of Napoleon. They spoke in
Spanish, of which Lackinsky under
stood quite enough to know what
they were saying, but he assumed an
air of uupOncarn and looked from one